What make/model was the first...

[69hurstSC]

what make/model was the first to place the steering wheel on the left side of a vehicle?

[Canada George]

can't say for sure Wes but I notice Fred Flintstone was using a left-side drive car... not sure what year this was but it definitely pre-dates the use of brakes

[PeteLeathersac]

If you're serious here...although Hayes-Apperson offered LH 'tilt away' Wheels in 1903 and other manufacturers including Packard produced some LH Steering Wheel cars earlier, Northern Motorcar of Detroit's 1907 model cars had LH Wheels one year before Henry Ford's new 1908 Model-T appeared w/ LH drive Steering Wheels for the masses..

~ Pete

[x Baldwin Motion]

[ QUOTE ]
can't say for sure Wes but I notice Fred Flintstone was using a left-side drive car... not sure what year this was but it definitely pre-dates the use of brakes

[/ QUOTE ]

not sure if Fred was a switch hitter, but this photo shows his control station on the starboard side.



apparently traction was not a problem, as Fred easily gets air in this photo.

[69hurstSC]

LOL, nice work on the Flinstone breakdown. The reason I ask is that on a NASCAR board we were trying to figure out why NASCAR decided to race counter clockwise. We kind of settled on the fact that since the steering wheel was located on the left hand side that this gave the driver optimal viewing.

[PeteLeathersac]

Oval racing is counter-clockwise to offer more protection and crumple the RH side and not the driver's side when hitting the wall..

I learned this the hard way 25 yrs ago racing a LH drive dune-buggy on a clockwise track...caught a trackside tree, snapped my Left Femur, spent 3 months in Hospital traction plus the next year in casts and learning to walk again. .


~ Pete

[69hurstSC]

Gives an all new meaning to break-a-leg. i wonder if it also has to do with the way horses were raced counter clock wise here in the states?

[Mr70]

Always round race the opposite direction the Toilet water flows in the country your in.